Valve Mount Layout for Lubricant Backflow and Pressure Relief
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Lubricant distribution systems face challenges in efficiently managing lubricant flow and pressure, particularly in preventing backflow and ensuring proper refilling and pressure relief, which can lead to overfilling and damage to components.
Innovation Solution
A lubricant distribution system with a mount that includes a one-way valve and vent valve configuration, allowing lubricant to flow from the pump to the reservoir while preventing backflow, and featuring interchangeable electrically and hydraulically operated vent valves for pressure management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a one-way valve is installed in the mount to prevent backflow, then lubricant flow control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The one-way valve is integrated directly into the mount body, merging the valve function with the mounting structure. This eliminates the need for separate valve housings and reduces the number of discrete components, thereby improving reliability through better flow control while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mount is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides structural support for the pump, serves as a fluid distribution manifold with multiple outlets, and incorporates the one-way valve for backflow prevention. By combining these functions into a single integrated component, the design achieves reliable flow control without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If vent valves are added to the mount for pressure relief, then component damage prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent valves are integrated into the mount body, combining the pressure relief function with the existing mounting structure. This integration approach provides effective protection against component damage from over-pressurization while avoiding the need for separate pressure relief assemblies, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent valves are pre-configured in the mount to automatically relieve pressure before it can reach damaging levels. This preliminary protective action prevents component damage proactively, and since the valves are already integrated into the mount design, the complexity increase is minimal compared to the protective benefit gained.
3Adaptability or versatility
If interchangeable vent valves are provided, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mount incorporates a universal valve interface that can accommodate both electrically operated vent valves and hydraulically operated vent valves. This universal design provides adaptability to different operational requirements while using a single standardized mounting structure, thereby achieving versatility without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures efficient lubricant distribution, prevents overfilling, and reduces the risk of component damage by effectively managing lubricant flow and pressure, allowing for easy servicing and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
A one-way valve is removably coupled to the one-way valve port. The one-way valve is fluidly disposed between the mount inlet and the mount outlet and is arranged to permit flow of lubricant from the mount inlet to the mount outlet and prevent flow of lubricant from the mount outlet to the mount inlet.
Implementation Method 2
The electrically operated vent valve and the hydraulically operative vent valve are each configured to permit lubricant to vent from the mount outlet toward the mount return outlet when coupled to the vent valve port.
Data Source
AI summary
A lubricant distribution system for supplying lubricant. The system includes a reservoir for lubricant and a pump assembly for pumping the lubricant. The pump assembly includes a crank case having a crank assembly that is insertable into and removable from a housing of the crank case without disassembly of the crank assembly, to provide ease of assembly and disassembly of the crank case. The system also includes a shut-off valve stopping the refilling of the reservoir with lubricant. The shut-off valve includes a blocker for preventing the flow of lubricant to the reservoir and an actuation surface for positioning the blocker to prevent the flow of lubricant. For overfill protection, the actuation surface is movable relative to the blocker. The system also includes a mount with a one-way valve mounted thereto. The one-way valve is removable from the mount for easy replacement or cleaning of the one-way valve.